Cell cycle checkpoint control in response to DNA damage by environmental stresses.

Being sessile organisms, plants are ubiquitously exposed to stresses that can affect the DNA replication process or cause DNA damage. To cope with these problems, plants utilize DNA damage response (DDR) pathways, consisting of both highly conserved and plant-specific elements. As a part of this DDR, cell cycle checkpoint control mechanisms either pause the cell cycle, to allow DNA repair, or lead cells into differentiation or programmed cell death, to prevent the transmission of DNA errors in the organism through mitosis or to its offspring via meiosis. The two major DDR cell cycle checkpoints control either the replication process or the G2/M transition. The latter is largely overseen by the plant-specific SOG1 transcription factor, which drives the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and MYB3R proteins, which are rate limiting for the G2/M transition. By contrast, the replication checkpoint is controlled by different players, including the conserved kinase WEE1 and likely the transcriptional repressor RBR1. These checkpoint mechanisms are called upon during developmental processes, in retrograde signaling pathways, and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses, including metal toxicity, cold, salinity, and phosphate deficiency. Additionally, the recent expansion of research from Arabidopsis to other model plants has revealed species-specific aspects of the DDR. Overall, it is becoming evidently clear that the DNA damage checkpoint mechanisms represent an important aspect of the adaptation of plants to a changing environment, hence gaining more knowledge about this topic might be helpful to increase the resilience of plants to climate change.

A multifaceted module of BRI1 ETHYLMETHANE SULFONATE SUPRESSOR1 (BES1)-MYB88 in growth and stress tolerance of apple.

The R2R3 transcription factor MdMYB88 has previously been reported to function in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Here, we identify BRI1 ETHYLMETHANE SULFONATE SUPRESSOR1 (MdBES1), a vital component of brassinosteroid (BR) signaling in apple (Malus × domestica) that directly binds to the MdMYB88 promoter, regulating the expression of MdMYB88 in a dynamic and multifaceted mode. MdBES1 positively regulated expression of MdMYB88 under cold stress and pathogen attack, but negatively regulated its expression under control and drought conditions. Consistently, MdBES1 was a positive regulator for cold tolerance and disease resistance in apple, but a negative regulator for drought tolerance. In addition, MdMYB88 participated in BR biosynthesis by directly regulating the BR biosynthetic genes DE ETIOLATED 2 (MdDET2), DWARF 4 (MdDWF4), and BRASSINOSTEROID 6 OXIDASE 2 (MdBR6OX2). Applying exogenous BR partially rescued the erect leaf and dwarf phenotypes, as well as defects in stress tolerance in MdMYB88/124 RNAi plants. Moreover, knockdown of MdMYB88 in MdBES1 overexpression (OE) plants decreased resistance to a pathogen and C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR1 expression, whereas overexpressing MdMYB88 in MdBES1 OE plants increased expression of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 3 （MdSPL3） and BR biosynthetic genes, suggesting that MdMYB88 contributes to MdBES1 function during BR biosynthesis and the stress response. Taken together, our results reveal multifaceted regulation of MdBES1 on MdMYB88 in BR biosynthesis and stress tolerance.

Tumor Drug Penetration Measurements Could Be the Neglected Piece of the Personalized Cancer Treatment Puzzle.

Precision medicine aims to use patient genomic, epigenomic, specific drug dose, and other data to define disease patterns that may potentially lead to an improved treatment outcome. Personalized dosing regimens based on tumor drug penetration can play a critical role in this approach. State-of-the-art techniques to measure tumor drug penetration focus on systemic exposure, tissue penetration, cellular or molecular engagement, and expression of pharmacological activity. Using in silico methods, this information can be integrated to bridge the gap between the therapeutic regimen and the pharmacological link with clinical outcome. These methodologies are described, and challenges ahead are discussed. Supported by many examples, this review shows how the combination of these techniques provides enhanced patient-specific information on drug accessibility at the tumor tissue level, target binding, and downstream pharmacology. Our vision of how to apply tumor drug penetration measurements offers a roadmap for the clinical implementation of precision dosing.

Bioacessibilidade dos polifenóis do jatobá-do-cerrado (Hymenaea Stigonocarpa Mart. ) e seus efeitos em genes relacionados à absorção de glicose em células Caco-2 / Bioaccessibility of polyphenols from jatobá-do-cerrado (Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ) and its effects on genes related to glucose uptake in Caco-2 cells

Introdução: O diabetes mellitus (DM) está associado a complicações que comprometem a qualidade de vida e a sobrevida dos indivíduos. Além disso, acarreta elevados custos para o controle metabólico e o tratamento de suas complicações, sendo assim caracterizado como um problema de saúde pública. A regulação da digestão e da absorção intestinal dos carboidratos, com vista a manter a homeostase da glicose plasmática, constituem importantes estratégias de proteção em condições clínicas como o diabetes tipo 2 (DM2), obesidade e síndrome metabólica. Os compostos fenólicos compreendem um grupo complexo de fitoquímicos bioativos presentes nos vegetais. Estudos in vitro e in vivo têm demonstrado que os compostos fenólicos inibem a atividade de carbohidrases (α-amilase e α-glicosidase) e o transporte intestinal de glicose mediado pelos transportadores SGLT1 e GLUT2. O cerrado brasileiro compreende uma larga biodiversidade, porém, apesar de muitas espécies terem sido identificadas, o seu potencial nutritivo e funcional ainda é pouco conhecido. Dentre estas espécies nativas é destacado o jatobá-do-cerrado. O jatobá-do-cerrado é uma leguminosa nativa brasileira, cuja a polpa farinácea que envolve suas sementes apresenta quantidades significativas de compostos fenólicos, podendo ter um potencial efeito sobre o metabolismo da glicose. Objetivos: Verificar os efeitos dos compostos fenólicos da farinha de jatobá-do-cerrado na digestão de carboidratos e na captação de glicose em células intestinais Caco-2. Metodologia: Os compostos fenólicos da farinha de jatobá foram obtidos por extração sequencial com as soluções de etanol (60%) e acetona (70%). Em seguida, o extrato foi digerido utilizando enzimas (α-amilase, pepsina e pancreatina) em pH fisiológico. Os compostos fenólicos presentes no extrato antes e após a digestão foram identificados por cromatografia líquida de ultra performance - espectrômetro de massas (UPLC-MS/MS). Foi avaliada a capacidade de inibição dos extratos de jatobá digeridos em relação à atividade das enzimas α-amilase e α-glicosidase. Células intestinais Caco-2 foram incubadas com diferentes concentrações (0,05 mg/mL - 0,1 mg/mL) de extratos de farinha de jatobá digeridos em diferentes tempos (30 min, 2h e 12 h) para a avaliação da captação de glicose e da expressão gênica dos transportadores de glicose SGLT1 e GLUT2. Resultados: 44 compostos fenólicos foram identificados, dentre eles, a principal classe presente são os flavonoides. Compostos como o ácido cafeico, o kaempferol, quercetina-3- rutinosideo e a quercetrina estavam presentes no extrato antes da digestão. O conteúdo de compostos fenólicos do extrato foi reduzido após a digestão, entretanto o mesmo ainda apresentou compostos de relevância biológica como o ácido p-cumárico, ácido 3-o-feruloilquinico, theaflavina, crisina e grandinina que já apresentaram efeito positivo sobre o metabolismo da glicose in vitro em outros trabalhos. Os extratos fenólicos de jatobá após a digestão in vitro inibiram significativamente a atividade das enzimas α-amilase (76 e 91%) e α- glicosidase (53 e 77%). Os extratos também demonstraram inibir significativamente tanto a captação de glicose independente de sódio quanto a expressão gênica dos transportadores de glicose SGLT1 e GLUT2 de maneira dose-dependente. Conclusão: Este é o primeiro trabalho que identificou os compostos fenólicos presentes na farinha de jatobá. A partir do exposto, podemos concluir que a farinha de jatobá apresenta potencial benefício a saúde devido ao seu conteúdo de compostos fenólicos e a capacidade destes compostos de regular a digestão e a absorção de carboidratos in vitro

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with complications that decrease the quality of life and survival of individuals. In addition, it entails high costs for metabolic control and treatment of its complications, thus being characterized as a public health problem. The regulation of digestion and intestinal absorption of carbohydrates to maintain plasma glucose homeostasis are important strategies for protection in chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (DM2), obesity and metabolic syndrome. Phenolic compounds are a complex group of chemical substances present in plants. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that phenolic compounds are able to inhibit the activity of carbohydrases (α-amylase and α-glycosidase) and the intestinal transport of glucose mediated by SGLT1 and GLUT2 transporters. Brazilian Cerrado present a large biodiversity, but although many species have been identified, its nutritional and functional potential is still little known. Among these native species is the jatobá-docerrado. Jatobá-do-cerrado is a brazilian native legume, whose farinaceous pulp that surrounds its seeds presents significant amounts of phenolic compounds and may have a potential effect on glucose metabolism. Objectives: To verify the effects of phenolic compounds from jatobá-do-cerrado flour in the digestion of carbohydrates and uptake of glucose in Caco-2 intestinal cells. Methods: Phenolic compounds of jatobá flour were obtained by sequential extraction with olutions of ethanol (60%) and acetone (70%). The extract was digested using enzymes (α-amylase, pepsin and pancreatin) at physiological pH. The phenolic compounds present in the extract before and after the digestion were identified by liquid chromatography of ultra-performance - mass spectrometer (UPLCMS / MS). The ability of inhibition of the extracts of jatobá digested in relation to the activity of α-amylase and α-glycosidase enzymes was evaluated. Caco-2 intestinal cells were incubated with different concentrations of jatobá flour extracts (0.1 mg / mL - 0.05 mg / mL) for different time (30 min, 2 h and 12 h) to the evaluation of facilitated uptake (sodium-free buffer) and gene expression of SGLT1 and GLUT2 glucose transporters. Results: 44 phenolic compounds have been identified, among them a major class present are flavonoids. Compounds such as caffeic acid, quercetin-3-rutinoside and quercetrine were present in the extract before in vitro digestion. The content of phenolic compounds of the extract after digestion was reduced. However, the extract presents compounds with biological activity such as p-coumaric acid, 3-o-feruloylquinic acid , theaflavin, chrysin and grandinine, which already presented positive effects on glucose metabolism in vitro in other studies. Phenolic extracts of jatobá after in vitro digestion inhibited the activity of α-amylase (76 and 91%) and α-glycosidase (53 and 77%). The extracts also shown to inhibit both glucose uptake and gene expression of glucose transporters SGLT1 and GLUT2 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: This is the first work that identified the phenolic compounds present in jatobá flour. Thus, we can conclude that the jatobá flour presents potential health benefit by modulate digestion and the absorption of carbohydrates in vitro

De Novo Assembly of the Whole Transcriptome of the Wild Embryo, Preleptocephalus, Leptocephalus, and Glass Eel of Anguilla japonica and Deciphering the Digestive and Absorptive Capacities during Early Development.

Natural stocks of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) have decreased drastically because of overfishing, habitat destruction, and changes in the ocean environment over the past few decades. However, to date, artificial mass production of glass eels is far from reality because of the lack of appropriate feed for the eel larvae. In this study, wild glass eel, leptocephali, preleptocephali, and embryos were collected to conduct RNA-seq. Approximately 279 million reads were generated and assembled into 224,043 transcripts. The transcript levels of genes coding for digestive enzymes and nutrient transporters were investigated to estimate the capacities for nutrient digestion and absorption during early development. The results showed that the transcript levels of protein digestion enzymes were higher than those of carbohydrate and lipid digestion enzymes in the preleptocephali and leptocephali, and the transcript levels of amino acid transporters were also higher than those of glucose and fructose transporters and the cholesterol transporter. In addition, the transcript levels of glucose and fructose transporters were significantly raising in the leptocephali. Moreover, the transcript levels of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid digestion enzymes were balanced in the glass eel, but the transcript levels of amino acid transporters were higher than those of glucose and cholesterol transporters. These findings implied that preleptocephali and leptocephali prefer high-protein food, and the nutritional requirements of monosaccharides and lipids for the eel larvae vary with growth. An online database (http://molas.iis.sinica.edu.tw/jpeel/) that will provide the sequences and the annotated results of assembled transcripts was established for the eel research community.

The effects of microRNA on the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs.

The importance of genetic factors (e.g. sequence variation) in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME) and overall efficacy of therapeutic agents is well established. Our ability to identify, interpret and utilize these factors is the subject of much clinical investigation and therapeutic development. However, drug ADME and efficacy are also heavily influenced by epigenetic factors such as DNA/histone methylation and non-coding RNAs [especially microRNAs (miRNAs)]. Results from studies using tools, such as in silico miRNA target prediction, in vitro functional assays, nucleic acid profiling/sequencing and high-throughput proteomics, are rapidly expanding our knowledge of these factors and their effects on drug metabolism. Although these studies reveal a complex regulation of drug ADME, an increased understanding of the molecular interplay between the genome, epigenome and transcriptome has the potential to provide practically useful strategies to facilitate drug development, optimize therapeutic efficacy, circumvent adverse effects, yield novel diagnostics and ultimately become an integral component of personalized medicine.

Detection and validation of stay-green QTL in post-rainy sorghum involving widely adapted cultivar, M35-1 and a popular stay-green genotype B35.

BACKGROUND: Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important dry-land cereal of the world providing food, fodder, feed and fuel. Stay-green (delayed-leaf senescence) is a key attribute in sorghum determining its adaptation to terminal drought stress. The objective of this study was to validate sorghum stay-green quantitative trait loci (QTL) identified in the past, and to identify new QTL in the genetic background of a post-rainy adapted genotype M35-1. RESULTS: A genetic linkage map based on 245 F9 Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) derived from a cross between M35-1 (more senescent) and B35 (less senescent) with 237 markers consisting of 174 genomic, 60 genic and 3 morphological markers was used. The phenotypic data collected for three consecutive post-rainy crop seasons on the RIL population (M35-1 × B35) was used for QTL analysis. Sixty-one QTL were identified for various measures of stay-green trait and each trait was controlled by one to ten QTL. The phenotypic variation explained by each QTL ranged from 3.8 to 18.7%. Co-localization of QTL for more than five traits was observed on two linkage groups i.e. on SBI-09-3 flanked by S18 and Xgap206 markers and, on SBI-03 flanked by XnhsbSFCILP67 and Xtxp31. QTL identified in this study were stable across environments and corresponded to sorghum stay-green and grain yield QTL reported previously. Of the 60 genic SSRs mapped, 14 were closely linked with QTL for ten traits. A genic marker, XnhsbSFCILP67 (Sb03g028240) encoding Indole-3-acetic acid-amido synthetase GH3.5, was co-located with QTL for GLB, GLM, PGLM and GLAM on SBI-03. Genes underlying key enzymes of chlorophyll metabolism were also found in the stay-green QTL regions. CONCLUSIONS: We validated important stay-green QTL reported in the past in sorghum and detected new QTL influencing the stay-green related traits consistently. Stg2, Stg3 and StgB were prominent in their expression. Collectively, the QTL/markers identified are likely candidates for subsequent verification for their involvement in stay-green phenotype using NILs and to develop drought tolerant sorghum varieties through marker-assisted breeding for terminal drought tolerance in sorghum.